Safed Musli Agrotechnology

 

Product and its applications

Safed Musli (Chlorophytum borivilianum Santapau) is a wonder herb which is also known as natural aphrodisiac alternative to Viagra. The dry tuberous roots of the plant are used as tonic for rejuvenating the male reproductive system, impotence, low sperm and in chronic leucorrhoea. In gynaecology, it is reportedly useful during pregnancy as a nutritive tonic for mother and foetus, replenishes lost fluids and improves the quantity and flow of breast milk. Safed Musli is also an ingredient in a number of Ayurvedic & Unani formulations as a restorative for immunity-improvement and remedy for diabetes and arthritis Musli grows naturally in most parts of India under a wide range of temperature and rainfall It can be successfully cultivated as a highly remunerative crop in Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra. & the foot hills of Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh.

Market Potential

The global demand for Safed Musli has been increasing steadily. It ranks sixth among 28 selected priority medicinal plants, the cultivation and export of which is being actively encouraged by the Government of India, through National Medicinal Plants Board. The demand of Safed Musli is estimated at 35,000 tonnes / annum in India while the present supply / collection is about 5,000 tonnes/ annum.

Basis and Presumption

• The agricultural land and related infrastructure is available with the entrepreneur.
• Prices are calculated as per the prevailing market rates.
• The yields depend on proper implementation of package of practices.
• Economics of cultivation greatly improves on scale of operation.
• This activity provides tax-free high returns. Additionally a number of government support schemes are available. Latest provisions need to be checked up.
• Market for medicinal plants is volatile and economics may vary from time to time.

Agri practices

Land preparation

Safed Musli requires well drained loamy to sandy loam soil rich in organic matter. Warm and humid climatic condition with good amount of soil moisture during the growing season favour luxuriant vegetative growth and facilitate fleshy root development The land is prepared during April - May. Before that soil is subjected to deep ploughing, tilling during March / April. At least 12 trolleys of farm yard manure per hectare are mixed during April/ May. Raised beds are prepared keeping the bed distance at 60 cm and height 25-30 cm. The raised beds are well irrigated before sowing the planting material.

Transplants

It can be propagated through seeds as well as by vegetative means.
Propagation by seeds: The seeds are black in colour and with angular edges. It takes 12-16 days to sprout. The seeds are sown in a well prepared seed bed which is manured by using FYM or leaf litter in the first or second week of June. Adequate moisture should be maintained during absence of rain in early part of the season. The seedlings can be transplanted in the field during the next Kharif season at 30x15 cm spacing because the development of plants as well as roots by means of seeds in the first year is not vigorous enough as compared the vegetatively propagated plants.
Vegetative propagation: The initiation of sprouts of fleshy roots starts during late April to mid May. For the purpose of raising plants in the field, the sprouted seedlings are collected after onset of rains and transplanted in the field. The fleshy roots sprout from second week of May to second week of June. The sprouted fleshy propagules are planted in the field in early June, followed by irrigation. The practice of planting on top of the ridges of 15-20 cm height at a row distance of 30x15 cm is adequate for obtaining commercial yield.

Planting

Safed Musli can easily be intercropped with other crops viz. maize, Amla and sapota to enhance profits from the land. The sowing of Safed Musli starts with the first shower of the monsoon. Two to three fingers are approximately attached to a part of crown. The fingers of tuber planting material are treated with fungicides e.g. Bovestin / Streptocyclin before planting in order to keep free from fungus contamination.

Fertilization

The FYM is essential to meet nutrient requirements for supporting healthy plant growth.

Irrigation

The crop may be sown on outset of rains. If there is no rain after sowing of fleshy root propagules and its transplanting, one irrigation may be provided. Later, when soil moisture recedes in the field, irrigation is required after 10 to 15 days intervals.

Weed control

The cropped area should be kept free of weed. One or two hoeings are needed to keep the soil porous and free of weedy growth

Pest control

Pesticides may be used where necessary to keep Safed Musli crop free from pests

Harvesting

The crop matures in about 90 days after cultivation. On maturity the leaves start yellowing and ultimately dry up from the collar part and fall down. The crop is thus harvested when leaves have dried which occurs during September / October. The bunch of Safed Musli fleshy roots is dug out of soil and washed well with water.

Post harvest operations

Drying

The harvested fleshy roots are cleaned and white musli tubers are spread out in the shade for about 4-7 days for drying to about 20% moisture.

Peeling

The roots are peeled manually with a sharp knife to remove the outer skin. It is a tedious job involving manual labour and substantial expenditure. The peeled dry musli is packed and marketed.

Yield

About 6 tonnes of wet fleshy root per hectare is harvested. After processing and drying, it is reduced to 1.2 t of peeled dry musli (final marketable product) giving an average yield of 20%.

Economics of Safed Musli cultivation per hectare

Particulars	Amount (Rs.)
Compost-12 trolleys @Rs. 900 each	10,800
Land preparation+ bed raising	12,000
Planting material 1 tonne or 1 lakh double tubers @ Rs. 3.50 each	3,50,000
Sowing	8,200
Weeding & pest control	7,000
Irrigation & supervision	9,000
Harvesting	18,000
Peeling	60,000
Packing, transportation & misc.	35,000
Total cost of inputs	5,10,000
Total output (1,000 kg peeled, dry roots @ Rs.1,000 / kg)	10,00,000
Net profit	4,90,000

Addresses of Some Dealers in Medicinal plants/ Planting Material

Tropical Forest Research Institute
Mandla Road, Jabalpur (M.P.)
Cedmap,
60, Jail Road, Jahangirabad,
Bhopal (M.P.)

KRD Musli Farm,10/47,
Station Road, Rau,
Indore-453331 (M.P.)

Mittal Musli Farm and Research Centre,
Jamod, Jalgaon (Maharashtra)
Regional Research Laboratory
Jorhat, (Assam)

Jeevan Herbs & Agro Farms
178,Keshav Ganj,Sagar (M.P.)
SSSBiotic.com

C/o biosourcing.com (P)Ltd.
A-41, Janpath, Ashoknagar
Bhubaneswar (Orissa)
Kasiraj Exports,
37, Santhai Road,
Tuticorin (TN)

A.Y. Agritec Private Limited
16-7-382/18, Azampura Masjid,
Hyderabad (A.P.)

The Entrepreneur Quiz - What Business Should I Start?

Do you have what it takes to succeed in starting a small business? This interactive entrepreneur quiz will help you assess your Entrepreneurship and Business skills.
The first question you should answer when you are thinking of starting a business is "Am I the type?". You will be the most important employee in your small business. It is more important that you rate yourself objectively as the small business owner than how you rate any prospective employee. Appraise your strengths and weaknesses. As a prospective operator of your own small business, acknowledge that you are weak in certain areas and cover the deficiency by either retraining yourself or hiring someone with the necessary skills. The questions in this test indicate to what extent you have the personal traits important to a business proprietor.
Instructions: Read each question and click on one of the suggested answers. Respond by marking the answer that most accurately describes your behavior, feeling or attitude as it actually is, not as you would like it to be, or think it should. You must be absolutely honest with yourself in order to get a valid score.

1. Are You a Self-Starter?

• If someone gets me started, I keep going all right.
• I do things my own way. Nobody needs to tell me to get going.
• Easy does it. I don't put myself out until I have to.

2. How Do You Feel About Other People?

• Most people bug me.
• I like people. I can get along with just about anybody.
• I have enough friends and I don't need anybody else.

3. Can You Lead Others?

• I can get people to do things if I drive them.
• I can get most people to go along with me without much difficulty.
• usually let someone else get things moving.

4. Can You Take Responsibility?

• I'll take over if I have to, but I'd rather let someone else be responsible
• There's always some eager beaver around waiting to show off. I say, let him.
• like to take charge of and see things through.

5. How Good An Organizer Are You?

• like to have a plan before I start. I'm usually the one who lines things up.
• I do all right unless things get too complicated. Then I may cop out.
• I just take things as they come.

6. How Good a Worker Are You?

• I can't see that hard work gets you anywhere.
• I'll work hard for a time, but when I've had enough, that's it.
• can keep going as long as necessary. I don't mind working hard.

7. Can You Make Decisions?

• I can if I have plenty of time. If I have to make up my mind fast, I usually regret it.
• I can make up my mind in a hurry if necessary, and my decision is usually O.K.
• I don't like to be the one who decides things. I'd probably blow it.

8. Can People Trust What You Say?

• I try to be on the level, but sometimes I just say what's easiest.
• They sure can. I don't say things I don't mean.
• What's the sweat if the other fellow doesn't know the difference?

9. Can You Stick With It?

• If I make up my mind to do something, I don't let anything stop me.
• If a job doesn't go right, I turn off. Why beat your brains out?
• I usually finish what I start.

10. Can You Keep Records?

• Records are not important. I know what's need to be known without keeping records.
• I can, but it's more important to get the work out than to shuffle numbers.
• Since they are needed I'll keep records even though I don't want to.

for more details call me---------

           How to Set-Up an Enterprise

              RENJITH C.O ,ASSISTANT DIRECTOR , INDUSTRIES DEPT KERALA

 

 How to Set-Up an Enterprise

Decision to be an Entrepreneur

The overriding reason for anyone to think of establishing a SSI unit can be summarised in one word - opportunity. An opportunity to be your own boss, to provide a product or service, to implement your ideas, which can generate sufficient surplus, is reason to think of starting up a SSI unit.
Starting a small business takes a lot of courage. To be successful - to stay in business - you need a combination of hard work, skill and perseverance.

Choosing your form of Business Organisation

Many first time entrepreneurs do not have a clear perspective of the issues, legal or otherwise, involved in choosing one or the other form of a business. This often results in avoidable mistakes, which later cost time and money to rectify. The options of the form of business with their pros and cons have been explained below. In India setting up a private limited company was the most popular choice among our sample of entrepreneurs.
Franchising is also emerging as a major business format. An extensive overview of its features is provided since it is believed that it will grow the same way in India as it has abroad.

Making a Product Choice

Make a careful analysis of the product or service you are choosing, sometimes in short run, there is a shortage of a particular commodity in the market, you may even come to know you will get almost two weeks in advance to supply fresh stock. Does that mean you can jump into that business. First thing in such a condition is to analyse the situation. Keep in mind that shortages may occur due to a number of reasons and a good entrepreneur always examine the pros and cons before setting up a business. It may tempt you to think that perhaps you have found a good businesses idea. But do not be easily influenced by these temporary shortages. Carefully analyse the future demand-supply position of the product, say for the next 3 to 5 years. Only when you are certain that the shortage will remain there for considerable period of time and you would be able to generate enough profits in the very first or second year of operation and that you can produce quality item within an acceptable pricing, then only you should venture into such a business.

Location of Industry

After deciding the issues of product, the next important question is, where to set up the unit ? For many tiny units and service-based units, the home is perhaps the best starting point. But not all type of SSI can be set up in home either due to size or due to nature of the industry. Then the entrepreneurs may like to locate their business in industrial estates, areas, parks, complexes developed by concerned state government organisation or private bodies or in a privately leased land subject to approvals by various state and municipal bodies.
State level Government agencies like DSIDC, HPSIDC, GIDC, TIDCO, UPSIDC assist entrepreneurs in identifying suitable locations/sites for the project, besides helping in the process of getting all the necessary clearances for the project.

Preparation of Business Plan

A Business Plan is an document where you plan your Business to have an organized and effective response to a situation which may arise in future. Business plan is not just for a start up company but also for those, which are growing. It can be used it to establish realistic goals or targets to achieve and to determine the current position.
Start a business plan with describing your business and product or services. Tell about the market you are targeting and the stage of development your company.

Sourcing Process, Raw Materials, Machineries and Equipments

Choices of process technology emerge once the product is finalised. For some complex products, process know-how has to be imported. In such cases agreements for technology transfer should be made with due care to safeguard interest. A lot of appropriate technology is being developed at CSIR and Defence Research Labs and some of these technologies can now be bought. There are some intermediaries like APCTT, TBSE, which can help you to locate the relevant technologies. Besides there are some In-house R & D centres of companies, which develop technologies and sell them to interested parties. Indigenously developed process know-how has intrinsic benefits such as appropriateness, relative inexpensiveness and possibility to work with technology developer.

Infrastructure - Land & Building, Water and Power Supply

Once an industrial plot for the unit is secured, then the next job is that of finding a suitable architect to design the outlay of area and factory. Design of factory building has to be in consonance with the type of industry. Have an appropriate plant layout. If you are setting business in home, plan the area, which is to be used as your production centre or office judiciously. You may like to take help of a professional to ensure that the area is utilised optimally.
An architect's estimate of building construction is essential for loan applications. Further, architect's certificate for money spent on building is needed for disbursement of loan.

Legal Aspects

Few simple steps to take care of legal aspects of setting business are to Register your unit with relevant organisation, check out the labour laws that would be applicable to you, pay your commercial taxes and taking care of environmental aspects. Each of these aspects is discussed in details.

Finance and Working Capital to Start Business

To start and set up their business all SSI units need monetary support. Before seeking fund estimate the cost including that of working capital required for a minimum of 6-8 months and always keep a provision for buffer. you can take help of an CA or concerned officials in Entrepreneurship Development Institutes to work out the total financial cost of your project. Decide the form in which you are going to raise the capital i.e. should it be equity finance, debt finance, loans or a combination of these.

Human Resource

Human Resource is an important element to be kept in consideration while setting up an business. Though, projections for manpower and staffing are made in the project report, however it is necessary to time the induction of manpower in a planned manner. For example: The engineers and operatives must be available before the installation of the machinery. While planning for manpower following points should be kept in consideration.

Production

Today's competitive market, it is difficult to maintain stable relationships with suppliers, customers, brokers, distributors, and even your own company personnel. Competitors are stealing your best customers. To maintain the edge entrepreneurs need to synchronies their production process, capacity, and delivery schedule.
Plan out your work area keeping in mind the requirement of your business. More often than not the area available to small businesses is limited and within that area all the work needs to be carried out, right from storing the raw materials to the final product. The space for each of these should be clearly chalked out.

Pricing

In India, price is often affected by excise duty, sales tax and local taxes like octroi, thereby making it difficult to maintain a uniform price throughout the country. You may opt for any of the following policies or modify and combine them depending upon your objective or you can have your own pricing policy.

Marketing

Marketing is an important tool to be used while setting up your business. Study, but don't necessarily copy your competitor's moves. Visit their businesses, watch their ads, figure out their strategies, and keep your eyes open. You may not be able to keep up with your competitor's strategy move by move. You should, however, be ready and able to blunt or block the impact of their moves through effective marketing. Then, later, you can make your own offensive move at your own pace.

Paying Back Loans and Profit Generation

Manage your cash Flow to pay back your loans, debts or credits. A healthy cash flow is an essential part of any successful business. If you fail to have enough cash to pay your suppliers, creditors, or your employees, chances are you will be out of business very soon. You should pay back the loans so that when you need loans in future, you get one. You can pay the loans or debts as per terms and conditions initially agreed upon, if you can't pay in time inform the creditor, ask for an extension stating the reasons. Proper management of your cash flow will ensure the same and is a very important step in making business successful.

Modenisation and Protection from Sickness

Once you have started the production most important aim for long run should be to remain at the forefront of business and avoid being obsolete in terms of products, services or management aspect. Listen and gauge the market, anticipate the future demands. There are many market survey document or market reports published by individual agencies and government departments on this aspect. An entrepreneur can use these as indicative guide to project the future conditions.
In face of competitive environment entrepreneur should keep abreast of process and technological changes that are taking place and wherever possible incorporate the changes which could increase the productivity, efficiency and /or reduce the cost of production.

Feedback and Reporting

Have a suitable feedback mechanism in place to learn from experiences, to gain an insight into what is actually happening in your business, if you don't have one develop a suitable mechanism, which suits your necessities. Think of your experiences, when you wanted to know from others how you were performing your jobs or chores or tried to find out how you performed in your a particular assignment

  BUSINESS PLAN, IDEAS, SMALL SCALE   INDUSTRY MANUFACTURING PLANTS, COMPLETE DETAILED PROJECTS REPORTS